Localizing multiple radiation sources actively with a particle filter

We discuss the localization of radiation sources whose number and other relevant parameters are not known in advance. The data collection is ensured by an autonomous mobile robot that performs a survey in a defined region of interest populated with static obstacles. The measurement trajectory is inf...

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Main Authors: Tomas Lazna, Ludek Zalud
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-02-01
Series:Nuclear Engineering and Technology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1738573324004194
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author Tomas Lazna
Ludek Zalud
author_facet Tomas Lazna
Ludek Zalud
author_sort Tomas Lazna
collection DOAJ
description We discuss the localization of radiation sources whose number and other relevant parameters are not known in advance. The data collection is ensured by an autonomous mobile robot that performs a survey in a defined region of interest populated with static obstacles. The measurement trajectory is information-driven rather than pre-planned, and the localization exploits a regularized particle filter estimating the sources’ parameters continuously. Regarding the dynamic robot control, this switches between two modes, one attempting to minimize the Shannon entropy and the other aiming to reduce the variance of expected measurements in unexplored parts of the target area; both of the modes maintain safe clearance from the obstacles. The performance of the algorithms was tested in a simulation study based on real-world data acquired previously from three radiation sources exhibiting various activities. Our approach reduces the time necessary to explore the region and to find the sources by approximately 40 %; at present, however, the method is unable to reliably localize sources that have a relatively low intensity. In this context, additional research has been planned to increase the credibility and robustness of the procedure and to improve the robotic platform autonomy.
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spelling doaj-art-b070be1a4fbf49d49ab5c0310291920c2025-01-31T05:10:58ZengElsevierNuclear Engineering and Technology1738-57332025-02-01572103171Localizing multiple radiation sources actively with a particle filterTomas Lazna0Ludek Zalud1Corresponding author.; Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Purkynova 123, Brno, 79601, Czech RepublicCentral European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Purkynova 123, Brno, 79601, Czech RepublicWe discuss the localization of radiation sources whose number and other relevant parameters are not known in advance. The data collection is ensured by an autonomous mobile robot that performs a survey in a defined region of interest populated with static obstacles. The measurement trajectory is information-driven rather than pre-planned, and the localization exploits a regularized particle filter estimating the sources’ parameters continuously. Regarding the dynamic robot control, this switches between two modes, one attempting to minimize the Shannon entropy and the other aiming to reduce the variance of expected measurements in unexplored parts of the target area; both of the modes maintain safe clearance from the obstacles. The performance of the algorithms was tested in a simulation study based on real-world data acquired previously from three radiation sources exhibiting various activities. Our approach reduces the time necessary to explore the region and to find the sources by approximately 40 %; at present, however, the method is unable to reliably localize sources that have a relatively low intensity. In this context, additional research has been planned to increase the credibility and robustness of the procedure and to improve the robotic platform autonomy.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1738573324004194Radiological source searchNuclear roboticsGamma radiationBayesian estimationSensor-based planning
spellingShingle Tomas Lazna
Ludek Zalud
Localizing multiple radiation sources actively with a particle filter
Nuclear Engineering and Technology
Radiological source search
Nuclear robotics
Gamma radiation
Bayesian estimation
Sensor-based planning
title Localizing multiple radiation sources actively with a particle filter
title_full Localizing multiple radiation sources actively with a particle filter
title_fullStr Localizing multiple radiation sources actively with a particle filter
title_full_unstemmed Localizing multiple radiation sources actively with a particle filter
title_short Localizing multiple radiation sources actively with a particle filter
title_sort localizing multiple radiation sources actively with a particle filter
topic Radiological source search
Nuclear robotics
Gamma radiation
Bayesian estimation
Sensor-based planning
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1738573324004194
work_keys_str_mv AT tomaslazna localizingmultipleradiationsourcesactivelywithaparticlefilter
AT ludekzalud localizingmultipleradiationsourcesactivelywithaparticlefilter